Collapsible antenna



April 5, 1960 F. K. SAUL, SR 2,932,028

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Filed Jan. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZW W April 5,1960 F. K. SAUL, SR

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1959 4/7 wen 5Y1.

p 1960 F. K. SAUL, SR 2,932,028

COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA Filed Jan. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //Vl E V 70R,fkm/a/y 5390; Se.

,-. an 4" U The invention relates to an antenna of the type commonlyused for reception of television signals and is particularly concernedwith an antenna which can be collapsed for shipping purposes.

Prior'to the invention several types of collapsible an tennas have beendeveloped which permitted shipping the antenna in a relatively smallcontainer. One type of known antenna structure which had the advantageof small shipping size also had the serious disadvantage that it must beassembled by use of nuts and bolts, so that the installer required aconsiderable length of time to erect the antenna. This gave rise to theneed for an antenna using clamps to eliminate the use of nuts and bolts.Antenna structures were developed using spring clamps which permittedrapid unfolding of the antenna, but difficulty was encountered insupporting the antenna elements so that they would not be weakened byvibration caused by wind. In many cases the antenna elements were scoredby the spring clamps as the elements were swung into position and it wasfound that the elements when subject to vibration such as that caused bywind would in time break at the points where they had been scored by thespring clamps.

The present invention provides a collapsible antenna having springoperated fan clamps permitting rapid erection of the antenna and alsoprovides protective members which reinforce the antenna elements whilepermitting them to be more firmly fixed in position. A collapsibleantenna according to the invention comprises an antenna boom, a bridgemember fixed crosswise of the boom, a plate pivotally attached to thebridge member so that the plate can swing from a position parallel tothe bridge member to a position parallel to the antenna boom, anelongated antenna element, fastening means pivotally attaching theelement to a surface of the plate so that the element can swing in adirection parallel to the surface of the plate, a protective memberclosely fitted about the element at least in the area of the plate andadapted to provide at least three right-angled corners alongside theelement, locking means adapted to engage the three rightan gled cornersof the channel-shaped member at a position removed from the fasteningmeans thereby in conjunction with the fastening means to hold theelement parallel to the surface of the plate, the locking meanscomprising an upturned edge of the plate and a flange fixed to an edgeof the bridge member, the flange and the upturned edge forming a socketengaging the three right-angled corners of the protective member.

The protective member is preferably of rectangularshaped cross-section,and the locking means engages the channel-shaped member by arectangular-shaped seat formed by a flange of the bridge member so thatthe antenna element is held firmly in its operative position and isreinforced against vibration or other stress. The various parts of anantenna assembly according to the invention are adapted to be rivetedtogether thereby providing a more economical type of assembly. Theantenna elements'fo'ld close to the antenna boom so that a minimum sizeof shipping carton is required.

The invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the various parts usedin a three-element assembly. V

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 1 whenassembled t'og'ether and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a completeantenna element assembly of the conical fan type.

The same reference designations will be used for similar parts shown inthe three figures of the drawings. H

Referring to Figures 1 anaz, aluminum antenna ele ments 14 are coveredby channel-shaped protectors 13 made of steel or aluminum. Rivets 16'and 17 are used to fasten the protectors 13 and the elements 14 to aspring plate 18 having upturned edges 18a which can be made of steel oraluminum. When the protectors 1 3 and the elements 14 are riveted to theplate 18 the middle element is fastened by two rivets 16 which hold themiddle element rigidly to the plate 18 while the outside elements areable to pivot along the surface or" the plate 18 around the rivets 17.The spring plate 18 with the elements 14 riveted to it is fastened byrivets 15 to bridge member 19. The spring plate 18 canbe pivoted withrivets 15 as pivot points (see Figure 3) so that the antenna can befolded for shipping and storage purposes with the long elements 14parallel to the boom 21 of the antenna.

When the antenna is to be installed in operative posi-' tion the threeelements 14- are drawn away from the boom 21 (Figure 3) and the springplate 13 swings down so that it lies against the bridge member 19. v

The outer elements 14 are locked in their proper positions by pullingthem aside from the middle element 14 until the protectors 13 areagainst and under the flanges 19a at which time the spring edges 18a ofthe plate 18 snap up and lock against the protectors 13 thereby holdingthe elements 14 securely. This action also locks the middle element 14which is riveted securely to the spring plate 18.

The grooves 1% (Figure 1) are put into the bridge member 19 in order tostrengthen this part. The reinforcing channel-shaped protectors 13prevent the aluminum elements 14 from being scored by the sharp edges18a of the spring plate 18. If greater protection is desired theprotectors 13 may be made out of square tubing. The protectors 13 shouldhave right angled corners so that secure engagement is obtained with theedges 18a of the spring plate 18.

Figure 3 shows a straight fan type assembly, or in other words theelement clamps are at right angles to the boom 21. On some antennas itis necessary to use bent clamps in order to tilt the fanned antennaelements. This effect is obtained by bending the bridge member 19'across its width between the holes 190 (Figure 1) and the holes for therivets 15. The clamp assemblies shown in Figure 3 are mounted on aninsulator 20 as required by some-antenna designs but the insulator 20can be replaced by a metal plate as required by other designs. Oncertain antennas only the two outside elements of each assembly ofelements are required and in this case the middle element is omitted.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A collapsible antenna comprising, an antenna boom, a bridge memberfixed crosswise of the boom, a plate pivotally attached to the bridgemember so that the plate can swing from a position parallel to thebridge member to a position parallel to the antennaboom, an elongatedantenna element, fastening means pivotally attaching said element to asurface of said plate so that said element can swing in a directionparallel to said surface of saidplate, a protective member closelyfitted about said element at P, v a least in the area of said plate andadapted to provide at least three right-angled corners alongside saidelement, locking means adapted to engage the three right-angled cornersof the channel-shaped member at a position removed from said fasteningmeans thereby in conjunction with said fastening means to hold saidelement parallel to said surface of said plate, said locking meanscomprising an upturned edge of said plate and a flange fixed to an edgeof said bridge member, said flange and said upturned edge forming asocket engaging said three rightangled corners of said protectivemember.

. 2. A collapsible antenna as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the protectivemember is of rectangular cross-section.

3. A collapsible antenna as claimed in claim 2 in which the flange fixedto an edge of the bridge member is U- shaped and adapted to fit theprotective member, the upturned edge of the plate being resilient andadapted to be depressed to permit the protective member to enter theflange, said upturned edge being adapted to spring up to lock theprotective member against the flange; l 4. collapsible antennaasclairnedinclaim 3 com prising, two elongated antenna elements and alocking means for each at opposite edges of the plate, each antennaelement being fitted with a'protective member and mounted to the platein the manner specified in claim 3, said antenna elements being adaptedto swing one to each edge of said plate.

5. A collapsible antenna as claimed in claim 3 comprising, two elongatedantenna elements and a locking means for each at opposite edges of theplate, each antenna element being fitted with a protective member andmounted to the plate in the manner specified in claim 3, said antennaelements being adapted to swing one to each edge of said plate, a thirdelongated antenna element fitted with a protective member and fixed tothe plate so as to extend in a central position with respect to said twoelongated antenna elements.

6. A collapsible antenna as claimed in claim 1 comprising, two elongatedantenna elements and a locking means for each at opposite edges of theplate, each antenna element being fitted with a protective member andmounted to the plate in the manner specified in claim 1, said antennaelements being adapted to swing one to each edge of said plate.

7. A collapsible antenna as claimed in claim 1 comprising, two elongatedantenna elements and a locking means for each at opposite edges of theplate, each antenna element being fitted with a protective member andmounted to the plate in the manner specified in claim 1, said antennaelements being adapted to. swing one to each edge of said plate, a thirdelongated antenna element fitted with a protective member and fixed tothe plate so as to extend in a central position with respect to said twoelongated antenna elements.

8. A collapsible-antenna as claimed'in claim 1,.comprising, twoelongated antenna elements and .a locking meansjfor each at oppositeedges of the plate, each an tenna element being fitted with a protectivemember of rectangular cross-section and. mounted to the platev in themanner specified in claim .1, said' antenna elements being adapted toswing one to each edge of said plate.

9. A collapsible antenna as claimed in. claim 1 comprising, twoelongated antenna elements and a locking means for each at oppositeedges of the plate, .each antenna element being fitted with a protectivevmember of rectangular cross-section and mounted to the plate in themanner specified in claim 1, said antenna elements being adapted toswing one to each edge of said plate, a' third elongated antenna elementfitted with a protective member of rectangular cross-section and fixedto the plate so as to extend in a central position with respect to saidtwo elongated antenna elements.

No references cited.

